Africa is one photogenic continent. From the lush jungles of Rwanda and Uganda, to Botswana’s cracked salt pans, to the apricot dunes of the Namib Desert to the icing-sugar sands of East Africa’s idyllic islands, to the rolling savanna of the Serengeti, Africa has spectacular landscapes a-plenty. To inspire you to plan your next trip to Africa, we’ve picked some of our favourite Instagrams that capture some of the beauty and magic of this continent.

1. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Grants gazelles defending their harems by locking horns in the beautiful golden light of sunset.

Photo by National Geographic photographer Michael Nick Nichols

2. Cape Town

A beautiful dusk view of Lion’s Head in Cape Town, which is a wonderful place to hike, especially in summer on full moon nights.

Photo by drawing_with_lights

3. Mafia Island, Tanzania

50 shades of turquoise in this stunning shot by a marine biologist.

Photo by simonjpierce

4. Hoanib River, Namibia

“It is hard to describe how it felt to have a giant of the desert walk right underneath the ledge I was hiding on… Close enough to hear the clay crumbling under her soft pads…other than to say that of the month I spent in Namibia it was my favorite ten seconds.”

Photo by James Kydd 

5. Camdeboo National Park, Karoo

A stunning shot of the Valley of Desolation in South Africa’s Camdeboo National Park.

Photo by jeannylovestotravel

6. South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

A pack of curious wild dogs in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.

Photo by willbl

7. Mozambique’s underwater world

Free diver Hanli Prinsloo swimming with dolphins in Mozambique.

Photo by hanliprinsloo

8. Karoo

The Karoo has some of South Africa’s best skyscapes – especially when there’s a spectacular thunderstorm!

Photo by stefan_dut

9. Etosha National Park, Namibia

Giraffes on a misty morning in Namibia’s most famous park.

Photo by passthemap

10. Victoria Falls, Livingstone

“It’s easy to see why Victoria Falls is also known as Mosi Oa Tunya, translation ‘the smoke that thunders’. I was in awe by the size and sheer power of this natural wonder.”

Photo by glampackersyd

11. Kenya

The Masai Mara are Africa’s most famous tribe, and with a strong cultural identity and fascinating traditions, it’s easy to see why.

Photo by 0grav1ty

12. Long Beach, Cape Town

Catching the surf at Noordhoek in Cape Town, a world-renowned surfer’s destination.

Photo by mrbenbrown

13. Dune 45, Namibia

Getting to the top of Namibia’s famous huge dune in the oldest desert in the world, the Namib.

Photo by cosmos79

14. Okavango Delta, Botswana

One of Africa’s true great wildernesses – the magical Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Photo by lodgesofbotswana

15. Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

A mountain gorilla photographed in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, one of the only few places in the world where you can see these great apes.

Photo by elliottneep

16. Chobe, Botswana

Another incredible African sunset in Botswana’s Chobe National Park.

Photo by al3xander_h3indl 

17. Makgadigadi Pans, Botswana

Twilight among the baobabs on magical Kubu Island in Botswana’s Makgadigadi Pans National Park.

Photo by markdumbletonphoto

18. Zanzibar

A tourist searching for shells on the impossibly beautiful island of Zanzibar.

Photo by nazyxo

19. Johannesburg

The city of gold, once overlooked by tourists, is firmly on the tourist radar after successful urban revitalisation projects have brought new life and creativity into the inner city.

Photo by garethpon

20. De Hoop Nature Reserve, Cape Town

An idyllic beach in the Western Cape’s De Hoop Nature Reserve.

Photo by thelionandthelady

Inspired to book your trip to Africa? Check out our budget African tours and safaris!